6 of the Best Free Linux Simple Backup Software

Surveys suggest that up to 90% of home computer users do not back up their data. That is a pretty frightening statistic bearing in mind how valuable and precious users' files are. Computer users who do not backup their files are at risk of losing all of their personal and irreplaceable documents. The hard drive in a PC can malfunction at any time, sometimes without any warning at all. Alternatively, the computer's hard disk can be damaged by an accident, a fire, flood, power cut, or infected by a virus.

If that situation ever occurs (without a backup), the only way to recover documents may be to employ a data recovery company. Their services are extremely expensive, and they may only be able to recover some documents. Your priceless photo albums of your children taking their first steps, your personal videos of your dream vacation to the Seychelles, important document files, emails and spreadsheets, as well as your entire multimedia collection could be lost forever. Even the loss of the boring stuff, such as information used to compile your tax returns, could cause you a real headache. We hope you are never in that situation.

Moreover, in the absence of backups it is not only files that are at jeopardy. Users will have spent time configuring their system; installing (and configuring) software that is not included in a standard distribution, customising the desktop, compiled hundreds of favorite web sites stored in the web browser bookmarks; the list is endless of what could be irretrievably lost in the event of hard disk failure.

A common reason why home users do not make copies of their data is because they consider that the backup process is difficult, and a time-consuming chore, and therefore more trouble than its worth. We have seen some innovative hardware solutions such as the Clickfree backup drives that make backing up data possible without even touching the keyboard, or installing any software. However, there are no Clickfree drivers currently available for Linux.

Instead, for Linux we recommend that home users install software that hides the complexity of doing backups. To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of 6 of the best Linux simple backup software. Hopefully, there will be something here of interest to anyone who wants to take the effort out of ensuring the safety of their data.

Now, let's explore the 6 backup tools at hand. For each title we have compiled its own portal page, providing a screenshot of the software in action, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources and reviews.

Return to our complete collection of Group Tests, identifying the finest Linux software.

Last Updated Thursday, February 09 2012 @ 02:17 PM EST